Learn how to choose exterior house colours for your existing home or new build. I’ve packaged all my exterior design advice and answers to your questions about home exterior colour in my new Masterclass Exterior Colour Selection online training! After over 4 months of development during the Spring and Summer… Continue Reading →
My sister Elizabeth and her family have lived in their current house for almost 10 years. The first update in the kitchen happened in 2012. We replaced the Travertine backsplash with cream subway tile (below). That made a big difference! Then, two years ago (at the same time I was… Continue Reading →
When home is your school, you need a proper homeschooling room. So, I helped my sister makeover a neglected room inspired by a splash of colour to create a kid-approved room design. Keep reading to find out what I used as inspiration for the amazing wall colour. All photos by… Continue Reading →
Since the grey trend has been replaced with black/dark and moody kitchens (the pendulum has to swing back and forth between light and dark after all), here’s where incorporating a trend works really well: You can make your 90s granite disappear! So first, notice I didn’t say 80s granite even… Continue Reading →
I started writing this post a few weeks ago and recently received this question which fits right in: Hello! I have a question that I would like to submit for consideration for ‘Ask Maria’ on the blog. We’re dreaming of a new build right now. Though we have already purchased… Continue Reading →
Considering adding black to your bathroom design? Don’t underestimate the power of black. When you decorate with black in a bathroom, you are already working with the darkest colour, so don’t overdo it. I’ll show you how a subtle repeat of black is all you need for a classic bathroom… Continue Reading →
Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you left on my Nephew’s Bachelor Pad Makeover in my last post! My Mom and I actually cried when we read some of them! As promised, I wanted to tell you about this fake window we created in the dining room…. Continue Reading →
Now that the black trend is here, we will be seeing a lot more black sofas! Here’s an Ask Maria post about decorating around one. What colours go best with black furniture? Really the question should be “What colours DON’T go with black leather furniture?” If you have black furniture,… Continue Reading →
Despite my best efforts, the psychology of “paint first” stubbornly persists out there. And I get it, you need a canvas to make a pretty picture right? And it does make sense to do the messy work of painting the walls BEFORE you put in all your nice things. But… Continue Reading →
When you understand the basic principles and colours of classic and timeless design for a new build, it’s just as easy to make your own choices when it’s time to customize your RV. Lea and Greg’s Boxer Lab Cross (Babs) My sisters partner Greg (below) retired this Spring and to… Continue Reading →
I find it fascinating that I did not feel compelled to write a post about the undertones of brown. I’m trying to remember if anyone even asked me about them during the brown trend. Undertones in dark colours are more forgiving I rarely need to discuss the undertones of black… Continue Reading →
I recently received this question and photos from a reader: I have loved following your blog, especially during our recent new build. We didn’t have all the money in the world to put into our house, but we were very good at getting what we want and keeping under budget…. Continue Reading →
We have arrived in Atlanta for my second Specify Colour with Confidence workshop this Spring (it starts tomorrow). After we left Toronto, we flew to Little Rock for a meeting and yesterday before our flight back, we drove around and I snapped a photo of this blue grey house with… Continue Reading →
In my last post about black shower doors, I added a paragraph about flow later in the day, so if you’re considering this product and you missed it, go read the post again. Also, I have received many requests to post my opinion on painting doors black. So, since the… Continue Reading →
Since I’ve been writing this blog for over 10 years, it’s interesting to go back and read what I said about the grey trend when it was still in it’s infancy. Back then people were still asking questions like “Is the grey trend here to stay?” and my response, ‘Why… Continue Reading →
Hi Everyone, just a quick heads up, my Spring dates for my Specify Colour with Confidence events are up, we are going to Palm Springs, Toronto, Atlanta, Houston and New Jersey, register here. ___________________________________ Back when I was a brand new designer, I always remember being in a home where… Continue Reading →
